Harveys Bristol Cream and Christmas

Heralding the festive season as loudly as Christmas jumpers and carol singers, this seasonal favourite is loved by family and friends alike.

Whether you sneak a sip whilst basting the turkey, mix it in a fashionable cocktail or toast the Queen’s speech with an annual tipple, one taste of Harveys Bristol Cream will put everyone in an unfailingly jolly mood.  

Its  distinctive nutty, dried fruit flavours and softly spicy aromas make Harveys the perfect accompaniment to some of the season’s best-loved foods; buttery mince pies and indulgent luxury Christmas puddings. 

(EDITOR: Every year, my wife and I like to watch the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol whilst eating mince pies and sipping Harveys Bristol Cream!)

Harveys Bristol Cream (75cl RRP £9.22) is widely available in supermarkets across the UK.

Harveys over ice with a slice of orange

The simplest of serves, Harveys over ice with a slice of orange brings out the taste of candied orange and perfectly complements the dried fruit and toasted almond flavours of this delicious sherry.

Recipe:

•             Place two or three cubes of ice in a tumbler

•             Pour over 50ml Harveys Bristol Cream

•             Garnish with a slice of orange

Harveys mulled apple and winter spice

Recipe (serves six):

•             Slowly warm 200ml Harveys Bristol Cream with 500ml premium pressed apple juice, six cloves and 50g vanilla sugar in a pan for 10-15 minutes to release the incredible flavours

•             Strain the liquid into a warmed 2 pint/ 1 litre punch bowl

•             Garnish with apple slices and serve in glass mugs decorated with star anise

NOTANOTHERBILL is the great new gift that keeps on giving!

In this modern day and age no one receives anything good in the post, just bills and the odd pizza menu...

NOTANOTHERBILL is here to revitalise your letterbox. It’s a new subscription service where you receive a beautifully wrapped and carefully curated surprise present in the post every month - something that is not another bill.

Presents are sourced from far and wide with the aim of introducing subscribers to great artists, designers and brands.

Presents to date have ranged from limited edition art prints, collaborations with up and coming designers, exclusive leather products, jewellery, and even a ‘Take over the world kit’.

Each beautifully packaged surprise comes with a personalised letter explaining more about the present, where it was sourced and why NOTANOTHERBILL think you’ll like it.

It costs £15 per month and you can subscribe for yourself (or as a gift) from 1 month to a whole year – to find out more visit www.notanotherbill.com “BILLS ARE BORING, GET COOL SURPRISE PRESENTS INSTEAD”

Give them a gift of love. Give them Single Malts for Christmas!

Don’t let choosing whisky be a daunting task this Christmas, check out our handpicked selection of award winning single malts guaranteed to impress your loved ones this festive season...

The foodie in your family, will love nosing Highland Park 12 Year Old and discovering the characteristic honey sweetness followed by fruit.  On the palate it is drying with a hint of gentle smoke and a flavour that just keeps on going. (RRP £31.65) Highland Park’s full portfolio of single malts is available at www.highlandpark.co.uk. Highland Park 12 Year Old is available at multiple retailers including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-op and Somerfield.

The gift of Ardmore is perfect for the person eager to discover a new dram this holiday season.  With an unshakable belief in traditional distilling methods, Ardmore Traditional Cask delivers a sweet ripe fruit start followed by the tang of peat. (RRP £30.93) The full Ardmore portfolio is available from www.ardmorewhisky.com. Ardmore Traditional Cask is available in selected major multiples and all good whisky shops.

Presented in its iconic bottle, The Glenrothes Select Reserve is the very essence of The Glenrothes range.  Perfect for the most stylist gent on your Christmas list, Select Reserve is produced in The Glenrothes ‘House Style’ laden with ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and hints of spice.  (RRP £36.18) The Glenrothes full portfolio of single malts is available at www.theglenrothes.com. The Glenrothes Select Reserve is available from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Asda and whisky specialists.

Laphroaig Quarter Cask is an ideal dram for the adventurer amongst your friends.  The vibrant single malt shows soft sweetness and a velvety feel when first tasted, then the intense peatiness so unique to Laphroaig comes bursting through. (RRP £35.99) Laphroaig’s full portfolio is available at www.laphroaig.com and Laphroaig Quarter Cask Single Malt is available in all major multiples.

For the whisky aficionado, Highland Park 18 Year Old is an ideal gift this Christmas.  Twice named, "Best Spirit in the World" by US spirits writer F. Paul Pacult, this single malt displays characteristic toffee sweetness and leaves you with a full, smokey finish.  (RRP £68.48) Highland Park’s full portfolio of single malts is available at www.highlandpark.co.uk. Highland Park 18 Year Old is available at multiple retailers including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-op, Somerfield and whisky specialists.

For the lady or gent that enjoys the classic things in life, the gift of The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Year Old will not disappoint.  This signature style Macallan is wonderfully rich in colour with hints of dried fruits, spice and chocolate orange. (RRP £76) The Macallan’s full portfolio is available at www.themacallan.com. The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Year Old is in specialist whisky retailers.

For the single malt fan, spoil them with the Laphroaig 18 Year Old.  Made in limited quantities each year and savoured by a fortunate few, the immediate taste is an oak sweetness, from 18 years in the cask. A faint hint of the sea can be detected, testimony to its time maturing on the sea-sprayed island of Islay. (RRP: £77.17) Laphroaig’s full portfolio is available at www.laphroaig.com and Laphroaig 18 Year Old is available in specialist whisky retailers.

Get them a special personalised mug for Christmas!

Everyone needs mugs. And mugs make excellent Christmas presents. Especially the supremely elegeant and rather fetching personalised mugs carefully crafted by Mclaggan Smith Mugs.

Mclaggan Smith Mugs have a special and incredibly funky knit pattern. Each mug costs £8.00 and for an additional £5.00 you can have the handle personalised (uo to 30 characters.) for the ideal gift for that extra-special person in your life!

To learn more please visit Mclaggan Smith Mugs at www.msmugs.com or call them on 01389 755 655

Red, white or rosé? Give the gift of home-made wine this Christmas

If your friends and family enjoy relaxing with a glass of wine, why not treat them to the new ibrew Wine Starter Kit? The ibrew Wine Starter Kit is a complete micro winery perfect for people who love wine and love having fun.

The ibrew micro winery is completely reusable and can be used time and time again to make 30 bottles of quality wine. Making your own wine is fun and the ibrew system makes it so simple. It takes just 21 days to make your own wine. Imagine the enjoyment of serving your very own wine, hand-made by you!

Whatever your taste in wine there’s a variety to suit you. If you enjoy a rich, full bodied red, try the Cabernet Sauvignon variety or for soft, ruby red the Merlot is ideal. There are also two choices of white, including a light, delicate and floral Pinot Grigio and a golden, fresh, zingy Soave. For lovers of rosé there is a medium bodied Shiraz Blush with floral overtones.

The equipment is reusable and has been built to last. After you have made your wine, simply clean and rinse the equipment and you are ready for your next brew.

The complete ibrew micro winery is available from www.ibrew.co.uk and www.wilkinsonplus.com and each kit costs from £70.00 per variety for two batches of 15 bottles. Refill kits cost from £24.99 to make a further 15 bottles of wine – less than £1.70 per bottle!

So, if you know someone who loves a tipple, the complete ibrew micro winery makes the perfect Christmas gift.

Christmastime at John Crane Ltd!

What better tradition to begin in the home than each Christmas telling the story of the Nativity.  Each day a new character is placed upon the growing scene, until finally the story is told and the Baby Jesus is placed in his manger.

John Crane Ltd boasts a number of Nativity Scenes, each offering a different look and feel.  There’s one to fit with any décor!         

Take a look at the Sevi Large Nativity Scene, Lilliputiens Nativity Set, Tidlo Nativity Set, Sevi Nativity Scene.

Of course Christmas is also about fun, laughter and music too so the Snowman Music Box and Santa Claus Music Box from Sevi are both sure to be festive hits.  Santa plays ‘We with you a Merry Christmas’ and the Snowman plays ‘White Christmas’ both while turning around.

Finally, a Dog with Reindeer Hat by Trudi completes the festive ensemble.

John Crane Ltd Nativity Scenes can be found in John Lewis stores or call 01604 774949 for a local stockist.

To take a look for yourself, visit www.john-crane.co.uk

Hickory Dickory Clock - nursery rhyme inspired clock from Folly

The stylish internet boutique Folly has added this nursery rhyme inspired clock to their collection of design-led gifts, home wares and vintage finds.

Super stylish and made using powder coated mild steel with a gloss white finish and bespoke black metal hands, the Hickory Dickory Clock has a laser cut mouse on the hour hand, which appears to run down when the clock strikes one, staying true to the original nursery rhyme

The clock is lovingly hand assembled and measures 270mm diameter, and a battery is included.

Hickory Dickory Clock £34.95 from Folly, www.follyhome.co.uk telephone 01455 631984